A Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has sentenced a mother to prison for selling her baby.
Esther Ita Udoakang
A young mother by name, Esther Ita Udoakang has been sentenced to 2 years imprisonment by a court for allegedly selling her day-old chiild.
This was made public in a statement issued by Nneka Aniagoh, Head, Press and Public Relations of NAPTIP. The statement read:
"The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has secured another conviction as 23-year-old Esther Ita Udoakang gets sentenced to two years imprisonment for child trafficking.
The suspect pleaded guilty to a one count charge of selling a day-old baby to one Princess Tonymass, who is still at large; an act which is contrary to Section 21 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015.
Delivering the judgment at the Federal High Court, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the presiding Judge, Justice M. I. Sanni frowned against such an act and subsequently sentenced her to 2 years imprisonment with an option of a fine to the tune of N400,000.00 (four hundred thousand naira, only).
Reacting to the Judgment, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli commended the investigators and prosecutors for a job well-done. She further lauded the judiciary for prompt judgment delivery and reiterated her resolve to fight child trafficking to the letter."